KIRKUS REVIEW

A debut book chronicles the
improvement of a fictional dad from the 1.0 to 3.0 versions.

When the San Francisco–based web
startup company that Nick Owen works for goes belly up at the same time his
wife accepts an orthopedic residency in New York City, he decides to stay at
home with their 3-year-old twin daughters, at least until he can land a new
job. Unfortunately, finding a position that actually pays well proves to be
more problematic than he anticipated. While at first he feels overwhelmed by
his full-time paternal responsibilities and alienated from his fellow
stay-at-home parents (exclusively moms), Nick gradually finds his niche. Rather
than being cowed by Supermom, the doyenne of the Hospital Family Association,
he challenges her supremacy. Supermom, whose name is never revealed,
transitions from disapproval toward Nick to outright antipathy; however, some
of her cadre of friends—the cleverly nicknamed Good Heart (for her kindness)
and Nifty-Fifty Wife (not explained)—come to appreciate his unique approach to
parenting. If his wife, Liz, vacillates among hostility, resentment, and
occasional approval, her parents are unrelentingly critical of Nick. His
friendships with chef Wolfie, a friend since his undergraduate days at
Berkeley, and new friend, Kelly, a gorgeous recent divorcée, buoy his spirits
immeasurably. Kelly, since her divorce, feels as equally isolated from her
friends as Nick does from the Hospital Family moms; however, as their
friendship strays into more emotional territory, it adds additional tension to
his already strained marriage. In his hilarious book, Armstrong, a Wharton
School graduate–turned–stay-at-home dad, makes Nick a tremendously appealing,
amusing, self-deprecating character. It is easy to understand why the hero
manages to win over his critics. In contrast, Supermom is reminiscent of the
popular queen bee at every high school, with a little added intelligence to
make her more successful with her underhandedness. The author deftly evokes the
negative side of city life with toddlers—few places for free play, the daily
hassles of navigating a stroller on city streets, cramped apartments, etc.—that
transforms Manhattan into more of a cage than an urban oasis.

An appealing comedy delivers many
laugh-out-loud moments for the reader who has dealt with a fractious toddler or
attempted to cope as an outsider in any type of clique.

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